Ohio State notebook of March 16

The scariest scene from the 2008 season came in the bowl game when Shaun Lane lay motionless on the field after a collision with Texas’ Jordan Shipley. The right side of Lane’s body was numb. Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel said the feeling has returned in all but below his right elbow. Lane’s football career likely is finished, but Tressel seemed hopeful that surgey would bring back the feeling to the rest of his right arm.

Big deal

Canton will be center of the football world in June and July when the Junior World Championships of America Football are played at Fawcett Stadium. What kind of players will the U.S. team get?

Tressel confirmed two of the Buckeyes’ recent signees for the Class of 2009 will participate. He wasn’t sure which two, but he hinted it would be two of the 14 Ohioans OSU signed.

Asked if the elite college programs are encouraging players to participate, Tressel hinted that they were.

“I heard from Chuck Kyle that there’s kids coming from some of the great programs around the country,” Tressel said. “I think it’s a matter of summer school and those three weeks (in Canton) being organized together. We were fortunate that we could.”

‘Beanie’ a Brown

There was something about Tressel’s body language that said the Browns have shown a great deal of interest in RB Chris “Beanie” Wells.

Tressel was asked a question about the “amateur football team known as the Browns” by an audience member. Tressel ducked the “amateur” part.

“I can’t respond to the level of play,” Tressel said politely. “But I’d be all for them going regional and taking Beanie Wells.”

Buckeyes

• Northwestern and Michigan State rotate off OSU’s conference schedule and Indiana and Iowa return in 2009.

• Buckeye coaches are going to North Carolina, North Carolina State, Wake Forest and Duke on a “research” trip.

• Tressel said an NFL staff member commented about one OSU defensive player who will be selected in the upcoming draft, “He knows more about defense than we do.”

• On April 8 in Columbus, Tressel will take part in the “super” spring football luncheon, a charity fundraiser. The event will honor Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and former Buckeye WR Santonio Holmes. LeBeau coordinated Pittsburgh defense and Holmes was named the Super Bowl MVP.